Short Films, Big Ideas

FOCUS FORWARD - Short Films, Big Ideas is an award-winning series of 30 three-minute stories about innovators—people who are reshaping the world through act or invention—directed by the world's most celebrated documentary filmmakers. The films have been viewed in 150 countries and screened to audiences on all seven continents.

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Can mushrooms save the world? In this infectious short by Oscar winner Leslie Iwerks, celebrated mycologist Paul Stamets demonstrates how fungi can "eat" radioactive waste, boost intelligence, and possibly treat disease such as smallpox and the flu.

The Directors

A who's who of international documentary filmmakers drawn from every corner of the globe, FOCUS FORWARD directors are the most distinguished nonfiction storytellers working in contemporary independent cinema today. Many have won Academy Awards for their shorts and features; others have earned their laurels at world-renowned festivals and at the box office.

The Festivals

FOCUS FORWARD films have screened at film festivals and events all over the world(yes, even Antarctica). Whether in Sundance, Tribeca, Los Angeles, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Melbourne, Dubai or Guangzhou, audiences have been inspired and moved by these stories of innovation.

More to Come

Filmmaker Competition

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The five winners of the FOCUS FORWARD $200,000 Filmmaker Competition were announced at a special awards ceremony at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Each received a huge cash prize, including $100,000 to the Grand Jury Prize Winner.

Watch the trailer to find out more

We're proud that filmmakers from over 69 countries submitted films to the Competition. Winning is great, but what really counts is knowing there are so many top-notch storytellers all over the world. (See all submissions here.)

Winners

Neil Harbisson was born with achromatopsia, a rare condition that causes complete colour blindness. In 2004, Harbisson and Adam Montandon developed the eyeborg, a sensory device that translates colours into sounds, which Harbisson, the world’s first officially recognized cyborg, wears at all times.

Syndication

FOCUS FORWARD films are available for streaming or on-demand on multiple platforms, accessible on all devices. You'll find our custom channels available for FREE and in HD exclusively via the following cable operators and premium online outlets.

The films premiered in 2012 and 2013 at film festivals across six continents as they also went live online. The films have now been viewed and shared in 150 countries on seven continents (a special screening was arranged for science conference in Antarctica).

The same creative brief was offered to filmmakers everywhere during the FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Competition. Astounding entries came in from 69 countries. A juryof renowned film industry professionals selected five winnersat Sundance 2013, who shared $200,000 in cash prizes, the largest ever awarded to short non-fiction films.

After eight months, entries from 69 countries, 95 semi-finalists, and 20 finalists, we are thrilled to announce the Grand Jury Prize winner of $100,000 in the FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Competition live on January 22 at...

Oscar-winning director Ross Kauffman's new FOCUS FORWARD short, FIRE WITH FIRE, which explores the groundbreaking new cancer research of Dr. Carl June and his research team at the University of Pennsylvania, who are reengineering the HIV virus to...